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Understanding Spiritual Words

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ” – I Corinthians 2:12-14

There is a belief in certain religious bodies that someone cannot understand the Bible without some sort of spiritual endowment. Anyone can agree that the Bible is a vast book of knowledge, but it is not as much of a mystery as people make it out to be. Consider briefly some of the scriptures that we find in the Bible and see if you can understand these verses from what they say.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. – John 3:5

Question 1: How does one enter into the kingdom of God? __________________

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. – John 14:6

Question 2: How does one come to the Father? ___________________

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. – John 18:37

Question 3: Why did Jesus come to the world? __________________________

Question 4: Everyone who is of the truth does what? ___________________

If you were able to answer any of these questions then you must have the Holy Spirit! In all seriousness, in order for one to learn from the Bible, they must apply themselves to learning the Bible. Paul would say in 2 Corinthians 4:2, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” The purpose of God’s word is to speak to every man’s conscience. You can only learn and come to know more about God through study (2 Tim. 2:15). If one comes to “rightly divide truth” then they will come to know truth. Pure truth comes from true study and honest wanting for simplicity found in knowing Christ. God understands how to communicate to mankind and knows how to take the indescribable concepts of heaven and God and place them within words that we can understand in this world. Take time to be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and search the scriptures to see if the truth you know can be backed up by God. You must be able to know for yourself those things pertaining to spiritual matters. Don’t rest on the thoughts and sayings of your preacher you’ve known your whole life. Come to find through God’s Word. Eternity is too long to rest your eternal destiny on the words and teachings of anyone who is not God.